About yourself Quote by Scott McClanahan
“In memoir, can you really tell the truth about yourself? You're not going to write about your little peccadilloes, like, "I like a finger in my ass during sex." Or whatever it is. You're not going to come out in typical everyday conversation and say that. That's something that's going to be only for a select few.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The New Yorker, 2018
Memoir demands selective truth; intimate or taboo details are often omitted to maintain narrative focus and audience comfort.
In simple terms: Memoir is selective truth.
Key Takeaway
Choose what to reveal for impact.
Themes
memoir
truth
privacy
audience
selectivity
Mood
introspective
candid
Type
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- personal essays
- autobiographies
- public speaking
- media interviews
Key Concepts
narrative ethics
personal vulnerability
cultural norms
Questions to Reflect On
- What truths serve the story versus personal catharsis?
- How do you gauge audience comfort with vulnerability?
A Different Perspective
Omitting raw truth may limit authenticity.
![“There's always tons of crap music people are trying to sell us - [it's] the same way with publishers and galleries.” quote by Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/48c/scott-mcclanahan-14739_crap_there-s-always-tons-of-crap-music-people_1087934.jpg)
